Note: this layout is NOT participating in the CIRROPS 2012 Operations Weekend.
This HO model railroad depicts the Santa Fe Railway from Joliet, Illinois to Streator, Illinois. The time frame is the summer of 1995 just prior to the merger of the Santa Fe and the Burlington Northern RR. There is a sign in my work room. “Today is Labor Day, 1995 Merger date is September 22.” This section of the railroad has two tracks called Main North and Main South. The alignment from Joliet to Pequot uses the Santa Fe mainline and also track that was shared and annexed from the Gulf,Mobile, and Ohio. The alignments are somewhat close to each other but not exactly what might be called “double track.” The tracks from Pequot to Streator though, are all Santa Fe two track alignment that is set right next to each other. There is a non operational interchange with the former Rock Island track at Joliet. Both the Metra commuter line and the Iowa Interstate railroad now use this track. There is an operating junction of the Conrail railroad at Streator. Train operation will include Intermodal trains, Manifest Freight Trains, Local operations serving small industries, and rural grain elevators. The Amtrak Southwest Chief and the local Amtrak Lincoln Service will be featured.
The physical layout uses the entire 48’ by 25’ basement and has more than 200 feet of mainline double track. Some areas have scenery and others show how the layout was built. The system uses the NCE – DCC system and has a 5 amp system with a 5 amp booster. Some JMRI computer control of staging and mainline turnouts have been established.
